AMUSEMENTS IN A CONFEDERATE CAMP— 1864
This camp of Confederate pickets on Stono Inlet near Charleston, S. C, was photographed by George S. Cook, the same artist who risked his life taking photographs of Fort Sumter. It illustrates the soldiers' methods of entertaining themselves when time lay heavy on their hands. Among the amusements in camp, card-playing was of course included. "Seven-up" and "Vingt-et-un" were popular. And the pipe was "Johnnie Reb's" frequent solace. His tobacco, at any rate, was the real thing — genuine, no make-believe, like his coffee. Often one might see large gatherings of the men night after night attending prayer-meetings, always with preaching added, for there was a strong religious tone among Southern soldiers, especially in the Army of Northern Virginia. One or two remarkable revivals took place, notably in the winter of 18(>3-64. That this photograph was taken early in the war is indicated by the presence of the Negroes. The one with an axe seems about to chop firewood for the use of the cooks. A little later, "Johnnie Reb" considered himself fortunate if he had anything to cook.